This data release includes metadata and tabular data that documents the collection date, time point, plot, block and treatment for each of the litterbag samples collected from forest litter at the Liko Nā Pilina study site located on the Keaukaha Military Reservation, Hilo, Hawai‘i. Samples were obtained from the field after 1, 2, 4 and 6 months during 28 August 2019-28 January 2020. Samples were processed in the lab during 1 March 2020-31 December 2022.

This data release includes metadata and tabular data that documents counts of arthropods collected from forest litter at the Liko Nā Pilina study site located on the Keaukaha Military Reservation, Hilo, Hawai‘i. These data are represented in three files: 1) a description of the date and location for each sample, 2) classification for all taxa, and 3) counts of each taxon in each sample. The classification file is in lieu of listing all taxa in the Taxonomic Classification section of the metadata files. Arthropods were extracted from litterbags containing leaves from dominant plant species within the study site and from litter collected in randomly placed quadrats. Samples were obtained after 1, 2, 4 and 6 months during 28 August 2019 - 28 January 2020. Samples were processed in the lab during 1 March 2020 - 31 December 2022, and taxa identified during 1 April - 31 December 2023. Quantitative data are only included for the litterbag samples. Overall, 319 arthropod taxa are included in this data release.

This data release contains the point-transect distance sampling records of forest bird survey collected in the Kohala Mountain complex in 2017, including survey point IDs, distance to detected birds, sampling conditions, ohia phenology, habitat classifications and background noise levels. This data release consists of one tabular dataset.

This dataset comprises high-resolution geotif files representing various aspects of the ʻākohekohe (Palmeria dolei) potential habitat on the Island of Hawaiʻi. It includes a habitat suitability map showing average suitability scores, a map of homogenous forested areas (HFAs) depicting clusters with consistent suitability scores, and a map of pixel-wise standard deviation across habitat suitability models. These maps were generated through a comprehensive analysis using lidar-based metrics, offering detailed insights into the habitat preferences of ʻākohekohe.

We examined habitat use and foraging activity of the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus), as well as nocturnal aerial insect abundance at Kaloko-Honōkohau National Historical Park located in the coastal region of Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i Island. The study area covers approximately 486 ha of marine waters and terrestrial coastal plains. Nocturnal aerial insect collection occurred in January and April (2 or 3 nights each) and in July and November (1 or 2 nights each) in 2014. Insects were collected at three stations (KAHO1, KAHO3, KAHO4) between 1 and 10 m above sea level. Nocturnal aerial insects were collected using a 22 W UV light placed above a funnel and bucket trap (Model #2851M, Bioquip Products Inc., Rancho Dominguez, CA) and powered by a 12 V marine deep cycle battery. Insect traps were placed near (~10 m) KAHO1 and KAHO3 (wooded shorelines) and KAHO4 (xeric, vegetated lava field). Timers turned the lights on at approximately one hour before local sunset and off at approximately one hour after local sunrise. Insects were removed from the traps at approximately 00:00 and 06:00, and preserved in ethyl alcohol (EtOH). Insect samples were counted and identified to taxonomic order under a dissecting microscope (Leica MS5, Leica Microsystems Inc., Wetzlar, DE). Samples were dried in a drying oven for approximately 48 hours at 65 C and weighed on an analytical scale.

The Hawaii Forest Bird Survey (HFBS) systematically characterized plant and bird communities across transects spanning all major Hawaiian Islands except O‘ahu. This extensive dataset has now been organized into a database and associated geographic information system (GIS) layers. This baseline provides an opportunity to assess how forest ecosystems and their constituent bird and plant populations have changed over time. As part of the HaBiTATS (Hawaiian Biodiversity Trends Across Time and Space) project, a select area on Hawai‘i Island was surveyed in 2015 with the objective of demonstrating the potential of using the HFBS methodology to reassess the status of bird and plant communities across multiple geographic regions and islands. The results of the comparative study presented herein highlight examples of the apparent vulnerability and resiliency of native-dominated Hawaiian ecosystems. Specific study objectives were to: (1) collect information on plant and bird species community composition, abundance, and spatial distribution following the original HFBS methodology; (2) assess changes in several biodiversity metrics; (3) examine changes in the distribution of invasive non-native species as well as changes in land use as potential drivers of native biodiversity patterns, and (4) demonstrate field and data analysis methods that may be applied to a large-scale biodiversity monitoring program. This is the vegetation description dataset from 1977.

The Hawaii Forest Bird Survey (HFBS) systematically characterized plant and bird communities across transects spanning all major Hawaiian Islands except O‘ahu. This extensive dataset has now been organized into a database and associated geographic information system (GIS) layers. This baseline provides an opportunity to assess how forest ecosystems and their constituent bird and plant populations have changed over time. As part of the HaBiTATS (Hawaiian Biodiversity Trends Across Time and Space) project, a select area on Hawai‘i Island was surveyed in 2015 with the objective of demonstrating the potential of using the HFBS methodology to reassess the status of bird and plant communities across multiple geographic regions and islands. The results of the comparative study presented herein highlight examples of the apparent vulnerability and resiliency of native-dominated Hawaiian ecosystems. Specific study objectives were to: (1) collect information on plant and bird species community composition, abundance, and spatial distribution following the original HFBS methodology; (2) assess changes in several biodiversity metrics; (3) examine changes in the distribution of invasive non-native species as well as changes in land use as potential drivers of native biodiversity patterns, and (4) demonstrate field and data analysis methods that may be applied to a large-scale biodiversity monitoring program. This is the vegetation description dataset from 1977.

The Hawaii Forest Bird Survey (HFBS) systematically characterized plant and bird communities across transects spanning all major Hawaiian Islands except O‘ahu. This extensive dataset has now been organized into a database and associated geographic information system (GIS) layers. This baseline provides an opportunity to assess how forest ecosystems and their constituent bird and plant populations have changed over time. As part of the HaBiTATS (Hawaiian Biodiversity Trends Across Time and Space) project, a select area on Hawai‘i Island was surveyed in 2015 with the objective of demonstrating the potential of using the HFBS methodology to reassess the status of bird and plant communities across multiple geographic regions and islands. The results of the comparative study presented herein highlight examples of the apparent vulnerability and resiliency of native-dominated Hawaiian ecosystems. Specific study objectives were to: (1) collect information on plant and bird species community composition, abundance, and spatial distribution following the original HFBS methodology; (2) assess changes in several biodiversity metrics; (3) examine changes in the distribution of invasive non-native species as well as changes in land use as potential drivers of native biodiversity patterns, and (4) demonstrate field and data analysis methods that may be applied to a large-scale biodiversity monitoring program. This is the vegetation description dataset from 1977.

These are the datasets for the Hawaii Forest Bird Survey (HFBS) and the Hawaiian Biodiversity Trends Across Time and Space project that systematically characterized plant and bird communities. The HFBS sampled from transects spanning all major Hawaiian Islands except O‘ahu. This extensive dataset has now been organized into a database and associated geographic information system (GIS) layers. This baseline provides an opportunity to assess how forest ecosystems and their constituent bird and plant populations have changed over time. As part of the HaBiTATS project, a select area on Hawai‘i Island was surveyed in 2015 with the objective of demonstrating the potential of using the HFBS methodology to reassess the status of bird and plant communities across multiple geographic regions and islands. The results of the comparative study presented herein highlight examples of the apparent vulnerability and resiliency of native-dominated Hawaiian ecosystems. Specific study objectives were to: (1) collect information on plant and bird species community composition, abundance, and spatial distribution following the original HFBS methodology; (2) assess changes in several biodiversity metrics; (3) examine changes in the distribution of invasive non-native species as well as changes in land use as potential drivers of native biodiversity patterns, and (4) demonstrate field and data analysis methods that may be applied to a large-scale biodiversity monitoring program.